The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-22
gr1e 1aaest.

IOWA.-Cedar Rapids.-A levee re-
Gently held by our ladies in this parish
Melted handsome sum. A mortgage of
1000, now held on the church, is source
of inconvenience, and we should not won-
der If movement was soon inaugurated
to liquidate the amount and remove the
troublesome incubus. Success to the
movement if it is made. Br. Mann, one
of the strong helpers of the parish, will
soon leave the city for California. This
will be loss to both pastor and people.
Special meetings, conducted by Rev.
James Gorton, to be held in the church
parlors, were announced for Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Jan.
II, Is and 10. The pastor gives Sunday
evening lectures as follows: Jan. 10,
Voltaire the Skeptic; Jan. %, Socialism
Remedy for the Poverty of the Work
ing Men? Jan. 30, the Saloon Problem
in Cedar Rapids. Some Reasons Why
Prohibition does not Prohibit.
Osage.-Rev. A. A. Thayer is delivering
course of Sunday evening lectures on
the political, moral, and religious history
of Russia, arranged under the following
specific tc pics: Ivan the Great, and Ivan
the Terrible; Peter the Great; Catherine
H.; Nicholas I. and the Crimean War;
Alexander H., The Commune; The Greek,
or Russian church. The Neaps remarks:
"Now that Russia is attracting SO much
attention in the political world no more
appropriate or timely course of lectures
could be suggested than the one begun
by Rev. A. A. Thayer, at the Uniyersalist
church. Rev. Mr.. Thayer has had long
and thorough experience as an historical
lecturer"
Clarinda.- The local paper gives
some particulars of our parish in this
town. We quote and condense from the
articles:
"The Universalist church of Clarinda is
among the Oldest of its churches. AS far
back as 1857 Rev. w. W. Merritt came this
way preaching Universalism, and on the 28th
of January, 1859, the First Universalist Soci-
ETY. of Liberal Christians was organized by
Rev. E. Manford. The members were; Job
10y and wife, Albert Head, Jacob 10y, Sal
lie Pfander, Charles Pfander, Catherine 10y
ST. and Rachel 10y. In 1862 number of
others became members, including Henry
Hiatt and the Abbotts. Two years later
came Rev. ]. p. Sanford who preached here
some time, and the membership ran up into
the hundreds. In those pioneer days the
battle of the sects was much fiercer than now
Theological combats of a weeks duration
were frequent all over the West. Happily
that method of settling the purposes of God,
public debate, has been discarded by sensible
men. About twenty years ago the present
house of worship was built, and since then
the Universalist society has met with varying
fortune, and at times had to struggle hard
for bare existence. But the earnestness and
zeal of Uncle Job 10y still burned in his
descendants, and few of the old members
still kept their hope of reviving the church.
About two years ago, through the efforts
mainly of Mrs. Chas. Lyman, Rev. B. r.
Shook, the present pastor, was employed.
Since then the church has taken a new lease
of life, and is fast taking its place among the
successful churches of Clarinda. Its leading
spirits have an abiding faith that there is a
place for this church and a work for it to do.
Rev. Mr.. Shook is a cultured and scholarly
man, a pleasing pulpit orator, and in his per-
sonal intercourse is exceedingly genial and
friendly. He frequently deals in strong, hard
arguments in behalf of his faith, but he loves
also the good and beautiful, and especially
whatever is bright and happy in nature. So
under his ministrations the congregation is
quite large and growing. Last spring he
brought hilher his family, and this has added